With the imminent arrival of Kerrigan and Heart of the Swarm on March 12, Earth awaits a global infestation. Blizzard Entertainment will be preparing for the onslaught with a worldwide broadcast spanning more than 20 hours leading up to the launch of the game. StarCraft players are invited to join us at official events in Melbourne, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; Versailles, France; and Irvine, California; or catch the celebration online. Top StarCraft II pro-gamers will play Heart of the Swarm show matches with your favorite casters narrating the action. We'll also feature live demonstrations of new features in Heart of the Swarm, showcase videos and community content, and give away great prizes.

Developers will also be present at other official launch events – check the list of locations for information about all these events, and stay tuned to this page for more details about the global launch celebration, coming soon.

Featuring

Luke Mancini -
3D Artist
Dustin Browder -
Game Director

Event Details

The global launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm begins in Melbourne, Australia at Federation Square on the banks of the Yarra River. Hosted by Leigh “Maynarde” Mandalov, this special launch event includes:

Live showmatches by top pro-gamers including mOOnGLaDe, PiG, yang and deth

You'll also be able to meet some of the StarCraft II developers and have opportunities to win great prizes. Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on a copy of Heart of the Swarm and get it signed by the developers.

After starting his professional gaming career in WarCraft III, Andrew “mOOnGLaDe” Pender transitioned to StarCraft II in 2010. Known for his strong roach timings, mOOnGLaDe became one of the first non-Korean players to compete in the Global StarCraft II League. With his large fan base and aggressive play, mOOnGLaDe is one of the best StarCraft II players from Australia. He has competed in a number of international tournaments including the IEM Season V World Championship, BlizzCon 2011 and the 2012 Battle.net World Championship Series in Shanghai.

Top placements in major tournaments:

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Finals: 12th place

Who is he?

With a number of strong finishes at Australian Cyber League events, Mark “yang” Richardson was considered the top StarCraft II player in Western Australia. He was one of sixteen players to compete in the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals last August. Representing Team Immunity, yang now resides in Victoria.

Top placements in major tournaments:

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Finals: 12th place

Who is he?

Daniel “deth” Haynes is one of four active players on the Australian StarCraft II team Nv. deth is an avid RTS player who has played a number of titles competitively. In StarCraft II, he has competed and placed at a number of local events including the Melbourne MC LAN and the City Hunter Anniversary Event and was one of 16 players to compete in the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals.

With an impressive and growing resume of results, Jared “PiG” Krensel has put himself on the map as one of the best players in Australia. In the past two years, PiG has competed in IEM events in Germany and China, and won the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals. In 2013, PiG joined Exile 5 and currently resides in Sydney.

Casters

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Oceania Finals

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals

Who is he?

Aside from being the lead caster for the Australian Cyber League, Leigh “Maynarde“ Mandalov has also lent his talent to streams for IEM, countless online tournaments, and the After Hours Gaming League. After his excellent debut as MC for the WCS Australia Nationals and the Oceania finals he returns as host/caster for the Heart of the Swarm ANZ launch.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Intel Extreme Masters Singapore

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Oceania Finals

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals

Who is he?

Phil “InFeZa” Bertino has proven himself to be an outstanding observer and a great asset to any production team. In addition to a multitude of local events, he captured the action during the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series Australia Nationals and Oceania Finals, and more recently, at the Intel Extreme Masters Season VII: Singapore. He will be observing all show matches at the Heart of the Swarm ANZ launch event.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series New Zealand Finals

Who is he?

Sean “Flamga“ Krauter has casted notable tournaments such as the Masters Cup, IEM Qualifiers, and the WCS New Zealand finals. He also has a strong online following through his YouTube channel and will be co-casting the show matches for the Heart of the Swarm ANZ launch.

How do I pre order my copy for pick up at the Official Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm launch in Melbourne?

Step 1. Visit your local EB Games store in the State of Victoria, preorder and fully pay for your copy of Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm, and advise the staff member at time of payment that you will be attending the Federation Square launch event by close of business Sunday the 10th of March.

Step 2. You will be provided with a fully paid receipt which you will need to bring with you to the Federation Square Event to secure your copy of Starcraft 2 Heart of the Swarm on Monday, March 11.

Step 3. When you arrive at Federation Square please go to the registration booth and collect your Starcraft II: Heart of the Swarm wrist band which will represent your place in line.

For more information on picking up your game, please contact your local EB Games store.

If you purchased via digital download:

You are still welcome to join your fellow StarCraft II community at Federation Square and enjoy the event. Please be sure to obtain your wristband at the event entrance beginning at 7 p.m.

Featuring

Event Details

The 20-hour and more global launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm will hit UNIQLO-AX in Seoul with exciting activities for attendees. Jeon Yong Jun, Um Jae Kyung and Kim Jung Min will kick things off and host this special launch celebration which will feature:

Live show matches between top pro-gamers Flash, Bisu, JD, Mvp, Creator, and Life

See how the new ‘Take Command’ feature can be used to jump in and play from any point in a replay.

Discover how the ‘AI Communication’ feature can be effectively utilized to give commands.

Pros will be teamed up with amateurs for a multiplayer team match on a custom map.

Cinematics, congratulatory videos, and community videos on the big screen

You'll also be able to meet the StarCraft II developers and have some opportunities to win great prizes. Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on a copy of Heart of the Swarm and get it signed by the developers, your favorite pro-gamers, and community personalities.

Event Schedule

7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Heart of the Swarm eSports event featuring pro players

9 p.m. - 11 p.m.

On-site sales of the Heart of the Swarm Collector's Edition (while supplies last)

Links

Partners

Sponsors

Players

Who is he?

Arguably the best player in the Starcraft: Brood War league, Flash is busy trying to be considered the same in Starcraft 2. Dominating recently played games, Flash is poised to incorporate his success into Heart of the Swarm as well.

Who is he?

Bisu made a name for himself as a revolutionary in the StarCraft: Brood War league through brilliant displays of multitasking and a whole new approach to playing against zerg. He became one of the best through endless effort, and now Bisu is set to take off again with Heart of the Swarm.

Who is he?

By winning the recent Hyper-X tournament and getting through the IPL6 Korea preliminaries, JD is showing signs of bringing back the aggressive game style that he was famous for in Brood War. The future is bright for JD as he is set to infest others with his gameplay in Heart of the Swarm.

Who is he?

When we talk about StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, we surely can’t forget Mvp. Becoming a four-time GSL champion and winning endless other championships, Mvp is gearing up for Heart of the Swarm. With strong game management and new strategies, MVP’s reign is set to continue.

Who is he?

Becoming the WCS Korea Nationals Champion and runner-up in the Battle.net World Championship last year, Creator has recently shown what he is made of and what potential he has. Living up to his nickname, Creator continues to study the game and devise new protoss strategies, so his future looks very good indeed.

Who is he?

There have been many zerg players who have shown amazing talent before now, but if you were to pick the best zerg player today, Life would probably be at the top of your list. With an amazing micro of endless Zergling attacks, at only age 16 Life has put in steady and strong performances at various recent tournaments. Many are expecting Life to make another 'evolution' once Heart of the Swarm is released.

Casters

Who is he?

Yong Jun is well-known as a passionate and leading shoutcaster of OnGameNet more than a decade on from his debut at the 2002 NATE OnGameNet Star League. His provocative and dynamic approach to commentating at times reminds fans of rap-battle, and he really knows how to charge up the atmosphere. There is no other shoutcaster like Yong Jun, and with him at the mic, the crowd at the launch event will surely be in raptures.

Who is he?

Jae Kyung is acknowledged as a living embodiment of Korean eSports history, having been at the mic since the first day of the Star League. His fluent commentating and witty storytelling has made many a star. We look forward to his rich storytelling in many Heart of the Swarm matches to come.

Who is he?

In his heyday as a formidable Terran pro gamer alongside SlayerSBoxeR, Jung Min was known as “By-the-Book Terran.” Since retiring from professional play he has pursued a career in shoutcasting, his background knowledge and seasoned eye for game-flow making him an instant fan favorite. With his familiar and accurate commentating, he will be shoutcasting HotS matches along with Yong Jun and Jae Kyung.

Who is he?

German caster Khaldor first gained recognition in the eSports world with his Warcraft III commentating at the 2008 World Cyber Games. His passion now takes him around the world, casting for prominent events including BWC, GSL, DreamHack, and IronSquid.

Who is he?

Wolf began commentating and shoutcasting StarCraft II during the Wings of Liberty Beta testing period. In May 2011, Wolf became a permanent caster for GSL. With plenty of experience matching words with Khaldor, we are looking forward to some fun, in-depth commentating at the launch event.

Featuring

Event Details

On the evening of March 11, join Blizzard Europe in our hometown of Versailles, France, to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! The official European launch event at the Palais des Congrès de Versailles is the only one of its kind in Europe, giving you the chance to be part of Blizzard’s first global live stream. Our incredible stage show will feature interviews with members of the StarCraft II development team, exclusive content, nail-biting Heart of the Swarm matches between world-class players, renowned shoutcasters, and much more. The show will be broadcast live in English with French audio available in the auditorium.

Attendees will receive a limited-edition collector’s coin commemorating the event and will have the possibility to win cool prizes like an Alienware X51 desktop computer worth €1,099! Be sure to check out the on-site retail store where you’ll have an opportunity to purchase Heart of the Swarm Standard and Collector’s Edition boxes and have them signed by Blizzard developers. Other StarCraft II merchandise, such as J!NX apparel, will also be available.

If you haven’t been lucky enough to secure a seat, you’ll be able to watch the live stream of this event and our other official launch celebrations across the globe in multiple languages including English, French, German and Russian. The live stream will also be shown at BarCraft events throughout Europe. Be sure to check the BarCraft page for an event near you.

Activities

Live stage show as part of global online stream

StarCraft II developer signing sessions

Chance to win prizes

On-site retail store

Event Schedule

17:00

Doors to the Palais des Congrès de Versailles open. If you’ve secured a seat at the event, please make sure to bring an ID and a copy of your sign-up confirmation email.

On-site retail store opens, where you’ll have an opportunity to purchase Heart of the Swarm Standard and Collector’s Edition boxes. Other StarCraft II merchandise, such as J!NX apparel, will also be available.

18:15

Please be seated by this time or your seats may be reallocated to someone else.

18:30

Live pre-show begins for the Versailles audience; get ready for the Global Swarm Invasion!

19:00

Live stage show begins as part of the global stream. Event kick-off hosted by Paul “RedEye” Chaloner.

The show will include Heart of the Swarm matches, community videos, StarCraft II developer interviews, and exclusive content!

World-class players: Stephano, LucifroN, Grubby, White-Ra

Stage show will be broadcast live in English, with French audio available in the auditorium.

23:00

Signing session with StarCraft II developers. Please note that developers will be signing one item per person.

Stephano is a player who scarcely needs introducing. He discovered StarCraft II shortly after its release in 2010, and began his rise to fame by winning several major tournaments the following year. Since then he has reached superstar status, winning against several of the very best Korean pros along the way. His play style – studied by many, successfully imitated by few – is devastatingly effective, relying as it does on constant pressure on his adversary to cripple their economy. Whether his opponents will be ready for him at the Heart of the Swarm launch event remains to be seen…

Originally known as the “King of Orcs” in Warcraft III, winning several world championships, Grubby began making a name for himself on the StarCraft II scene in various tournaments during 2011. He gradually progressed and eventually gave a good showing in the Battle.net World Championship Series Europe Finals. He’s well known for a slow play style, matched to a very witty and effective strategy: he’s a “tranquil force” who can think and adapt on the run. Will his quiet and calm temperament lead him to another victory?

Formerly a Brood War player, White-Ra was already well known during the StarCraft II beta and quickly achieved success in various tournaments. Known for his very good manners and sportsmanship, he uses extremely precise builds to confuse his opponents and gain complete control of the map. His expert use of Warp Prisms and Gateway units has surprised many top-class players, and he may very well bewilder us again with his “special tactics”.

LucifroN is another player who managed to translate a successful career in Warcraft III to StarCraft II. The Terran player has had his ups and downs, but came back explosively at the WCS Spain. His remarkable micromanagement skills and aggressive play style leave no doubt about his past as a Warcraft III player. His multitasking abilities with mech armies give him the chance to crush even his most experienced opponents, including his well-known brother VortiX. His unique style will, as always, make for matches you simply can’t miss.

Casters

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Battle.net World Championship

2012: WCS Europe Finals

2011: IGN ProLeague Season 2

2011: North American Star League Season 1 Finals

2010: BlizzCon StarCraft II Invitational

Who is he?

Usually in partnership with Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski, Tasteless is one of the foremost StarCraft shoutcasters. Brother of no less famous Sean “Day[9]” Plott, he began as a professional player but leaned towards casting in 2005 during the WCG USA finals. He kept commentating for various tournaments until GOM TV offered him a permanent job in 2009. Casting the prestigious GSL since, Tasteless is known for his great passion for the game, and for pushing his voice to the limit and beyond during marathon casting sessions.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Battle.net World Championship

2012: WCS Europe Finals

2011: Major League Gaming Pro Circuit: Columbus

2011: Global StarCraft League World Championship

2010: BlizzCon StarCraft II Invitational

Who is he?

Artosis is an iconic commentator, a fixture at major tournaments along with his friend Nick “Tasteless” Plott. However, he also remains an active player at a professional level, participating in tournaments such as the IEM Cologne and Code S, but sometimes also taking the coach’s hat. His ultra-sharp analysis of the matches he casts gives spectators great insight into the game.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Iron Squid – Chapter II

2012: Electronic Sports World Cup 2012

2012: MLG Pro Circuit 2012 (all seasons)

2012: Iron Squid – Chapter I

2011: Electronic Sports World Cup

Who is he?

Soon after the launch of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty in 2010, Alexandre “Pomf” Noci and his brother Hadrien “Thud” Noci quickly established themselves as France’s premier shoutcasters. Pomf’s humor and cheerfulness always make games both fascinating and funny, to the point where they are even watched by people who don’t play StarCraft II. He and Thud have an uncanny ability to turn a complex game into popular and easy-to-follow entertainment, and have organized several great events in France including the Iron Squid tournament.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Iron Squid – Chapter II

2012: Electronic Sports World Cup 2012

2012: MLG Pro Circuit 2012 (all seasons)

2012: Iron Squid – Chapter I

2011: Electronic Sports World Cup

Who is he?

Hadrien “Thud” Noci, the elder brother of the Noci family, began his shoutcasting adventure at the same time as Alexandre “Pomf” Noci. Deeply involved in the game, he brings an analytical approach, digging into the reasons why players act as they do and always trying to predict their moves. Despite this, he still has the eccentric streak that characterizes the famous French brothers, and makes any game they cast an enjoyable experience.

Experts

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Iron Squid – Chapter I

2012: WCS Europe Finals

2011: DreamHack Winter

2011: DreamHack Valencia Invitational

2010: IEM Season V – Global Challenge Cologne

Who is he?

Apollo is a familiar face and name to many eSports communities, having participated in several Brood War tournaments, and also at a high level in other strategy games. He eventually decided to focus on StarCraft II, and began commentating on games with other casters such as Sean “Day[9]” Plott. He shares his passion not only by casting games with energy and enthusiasm, but also through his hugely popular tutorials, sharing his insight with the community. Apollo’s fascinating insight into StarCraft II’s mechanics and strategies make him the ideal analyst for the matches to be held at the European Heart of the Swarm launch event.

Prestigious tournaments hosted:

2012: DreamHack Open Winter

2012: WCS Europe Finals

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Europe

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series United Kingdom

Who is he?

ReDeYe, proud father of three, is without a doubt one of the most knowledgeable people in the e-Sports scene. He has casted for various games over the years including Warcraft III, FIFA, Quake and Counterstrike before coming to StarCraft II. He’s worked all over the world, online and on TV; and he has a fair claim to being one of the first people to ever “shoutcast”. Despite stepping back from the microphone more than once in his career, he came back with a vengeance in 2012, hosting numerous StarCraft II tournaments throughout 2012.

Prestigious tournaments observed:

2012: Major League Gaming Pro Circuit Fall Championship

2012: Battle.net World Championship

2012: DreamHack Open: Winter

2012: StarCraft II World Championship Series Europe

2012: Major League Gaming Pro Circuit Spring Championship

Who is he?

One of the first StarCraft II casters, Adebisi has become a regular fixture at major tournaments including Major League Gaming and Dreamhack. Praised for his ability to focus on the key action at the right moment, he became an official observer for the MLG Championships. His accurate and global vision of the game made sure that fans around the world did not miss any of the action during the Battle.net World Championship.

Featuring

Event Details

The 20-hours and more global launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm reaches its finale at the Irvine Spectrum Center in Southern California. Sean "Day[9]" Plott and Mike "Husky" Lamond will host this special launch celebration, featuring:

Live show matches by top pro-gamers Polt, MC, Suppy, and ViBE

See how the new "Take Command" feature can be used to jump in and play from any point in a replay

Learn about hot new custom games in the Arcade

Two lucky attendees will join forces with Suppy and ViBE in a 2v2 pro/am

Heart of the Swarm campaign presentation

Find out how you'll customize Kerrigan and your Swarm in the campaign

Community videos and cinematics on the big screen

You'll also be able to meet the StarCraft II developers and have some opportunities to win great prizes. Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on a copy of Heart of the Swarm and get it signed by the developers, your favorite pro-gamers, and community personalities.

Activities

Blizzard executives and The StarCraft II Development Team

Top pro-gamers and casters

Live StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm show matches and game demonstrations

Giveaways

Event Schedule

Sunday, March 10, 9:00 p.m.

No line may form at GameStop before this time. No event wristbands will be distributed until product is purchased the following day. Wristbands only determine order of product pick-up. All giveaways are random.

Monday, March 11, 10:00 a.m.

GameStop opens, licensed product may be purchased and event wristbands are distributed when pre-orders are finalized.

Monday, March 11, 2:00 p.m.

Additional registers open at Giant Wheel Court, product may be purchased and event wristbands are distributed with purchase.NOTE: Customers who pre-ordered StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm at the GameStop in Spectrum Center must first pick up a final sales receipt at GameStop.

In the months following the launch of StarCraft II, Choi “Polt” Seong Hoon qualified for all three seasons of the GOMTV Global StarCraft II League. Polt’s breakout performance came in June, 2011, when he beat top tier professional players to become the 2011 GSL Super Tournament champion. With major tournament results from Korea, Finland, Sweden and the United States, Polt is no stranger to the international stage and travel. In December, 2012, Polt left Team SCV Life and moved to Austin, Texas to study but has no plans to slow down with StarCraft II.

There are very few StarCraft II progamers as accomplished as Jang “MC” Min Chul. Since 2010, MC has made it to the round of four in fifteen major tournaments. His impressive roster of victories includes two Global StarCraft II League wins and the IEM Season VI World Champion title. With over $350,000 in prize winnings since the launch of StarCraft II, MC is the highest earning player from tournament winnings in the game. He is affectionately known as the “Protoss President” by his fans.

Conan “Suppy” Liu earned the Bic Flex 4 MLG Breakout Player Award at the MLG Spring Championship after having the highest placing of any American at the event. The powerhouse eSports team, Evil Geniuses, announced Suppy as its newest recruit shortly after. Proving himself as a player to beat, this young Zerg was the top placing North American player at both the MLG Fall Championships and the 2012 Battle.net World Championship. When he isn’t taking on the international StarCraft II scene, Suppy is the head coordinator and ace for Berkeley’s Collegiate StarLeague team, which recently won the Azubu Collegiate Starleague championship.

In May 2012, Dan “ViBE” Scherlong joined ROOT Gaming and soon after, won the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series USA Nationals. Based off that performance, ViBE earned a reputation as one of the strongest StarCraft II players in the country. His second place finish at the 2012 StarCraft II World Championship Series North America Finals only further secured his position as one of the best Zerg players in North America.

Casters

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: StarCraft II Battle.net World Championship

2011: Major League Gaming Orlando, Raleigh, Anaheim and Columbus 2011

2011: BlizzCon 2011

2011: DreamHack Summer 2011

2011: Intel Extreme Masters Season V World Championship

2010: BlizzCon 2010

Who is he?

Sean “Day9” Plott is the biggest name in the StarCraft II community and an ambassador for the eSports community. Five nights a week, Sean “Day9” Plott hosts the “Day9 Daily,” a StarCraft II show that aims to turn viewers into better gamers. The show has had humble beginnings but has grown over the years to become arguably the most popular eSports show in the world. As one of the top StarCraft II shoutcasters, Day9 has traveled the globe casting at StarCraft II events from Canada to Sweden to China.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Major League Gaming Pro Circuit Spring Championship

2011: Major League Gaming Providence, Orlando, Raleigh and Anaheim 2011

2011: NVIDIA GeForce StarCraft II Pro/Am

2011: Pokerstrategy.com TeamLiquid StarLeague 3

2010: Major League Gaming Raleigh 2010

Who is he?

With over 700,000 subscribers on his StarCraft II channel, Mike “Husky” Lamond is one of the most popular casters on YouTube. He is known for his enthusiasm and widespread appeal which helps to bring fans into the competitive StarCraft II scene. In addition to his own YouTube channels, Husky has casted at a number of events including Major League Gaming, is a member of the gaming pop group “Nerd Alert,” and is a co-founder of YouTube channel TheGameStation.

If you pre-ordered at GameStop in Spectrum Center:

Pay off and finalize your pre-order at the GameStop in Spectrum Center any time after 10:00 a.m. on Monday, March 11 and pick up your event wristband.

After you have your wristband, join the other attendees in the Giant Wheel Court and enjoy the event.

If you pre-ordered at a GameStop not in Spectrum Center:

Your pre-order deposit will not be accessible at the event but can be refunded any time before or after the event in the store where you placed the order. When you arrive at the Giant Wheel Court at the Spectrum Center for the event:

Purchase your copy of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm at the registers in the Giant Wheel Court between 2:00 p.m. and midnight (you will not need to go to the GameStop store in Spectrum Center) and pick up your event wristband.

After you have your wristband, join the other attendees in the Giant Wheel Court and enjoy the event.

If you have not pre-ordered a StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, standard or Collector's Edition, with GameStop:

No pre-order? No problem! Purchase your copy of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm, standard or Collector's Edition, at the event at Spectrum Center. Supplies are limited, so be sure to stop by a register as soon as you arrive to make your purchase and get your receipt and event wristband.

If you purchased via digital download:

You are still welcome to join us in the Giant Wheel Court and enjoy the event. Please be sure to obtain your wristband at the event entrance beginning at 7 p.m.

If you do not wish to have your copy signed:

No problem. At midnight, GameStop will host a separate distribution for those who are eager to get their copy, get home, and join Kerrigan and the Swarm as they sweep across the galaxy.

Featuring

Kaeo Milker -
Senior Game Producer

Event Details

When darkness starts to settle into the evening of March 11th, the Global Swarm Invasion reaches Singapore to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! Be prepared for a fun night of celebration. Activities include meeting Kaeo Milker, a member of the StarCraft II development team, and playing Heart of the Swarm at the event venue. Plus, enjoy the live stream from other parts of the world, and the opportunity to win some very cool prizes.

Links

Partners

Sponsors

Featuring

Allen Dilling -
Lead 3D Artist
Steve Provost -
3D Artist

Event Details

At the Taiwan launch event, Sen, one of the most famous non-Korean Zerg players, will have a face to face show match with NesTea, a current Zerg player for Incredible Miracle. NesTea, who has been widely considered as the best Zerg player in the world, is visiting Taiwan for his first time. The Bo3 show match will be shoutcasted by famous local shoutcasters Sobad and Joeman.

Allen Dilling, the lead 3D artist from StarCraft II team will once again visit to Taiwan to celebrate with the players for the launch of Heart of the Swarm. Players will also get a chance to win epic prizes at the event provided by different sponsors, including AMD HD 8000 series CPU, HD 7970 Graphic card, ASUS Desktop CM6870, 3 full suites of Razer’s StarCraft II Collector’s Edition products with a Heart of the Swarm theme.

At the end of the launch event, players can have their Heart of the Swarm merchandise signed by StarCraft II developers, pro-gamers and famous shoutcasters. They can also purchase StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Standard Edition after the event ends.

Activities

Meet members of the StarCraft II development team

Top pro-gamers and casters

Live StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm show matches

Giveaways

Event Schedule

Before 1:15 p.m.

Players can come to the event reception table and claim their guest pass

1:15 p.m.

Open for players to get into the venue

2:00 p.m.

Event starts

2:20 p.m.

Show match starts

3:30 p.m.

Lucky draw/Fun match with pro-gamers

4:00 p.m.

Autographing session

4:00 p.m.

After the launch event ends, players can purchase Heart of the Swarm on-site

Lim "NesTea" Jae Duk is a Zerg player from South Korea, who is currently playing for Incredible Miracle. Following his third GSL championship, he was widely considered the best Zerg player in the world. NesTea has competed and placed in a number of international events including the IGN ProLeague Season 4, Iron Squid Chapter I and Chapter II, and BlizzCon 2011. Known for his excellent decision making, NesTea is a consistent force in the competitive StarCraft II scene.

2011: North American Star League Season 1: 3rd place, cash prize of $10,000

Who is he?

Yang “Sen” Chia Cheng has been Taiwan’s best Brood War and StarCraft II player for nearly a decade. He was one of the top non-Korean Brood War players, taking first place in WCG Taiwan 2004 and 2005, and third place in the 2009 Poker Strategy Team Liquid Starleague. Sen entered StarCraft II with high expectations and has managed to live up to those expectations, earning third place at the North American Star League Season 1, Season 2, and BlizzCon 2011. More recently, he battled his way to a surprisingly strong 4th place finish at the 2012 Battle.net World Championship. Sen is also one of the few non-Korean players to have competed in the Global StarCraft II League in South Korea.

Casters

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: StarCraft II Battle.net World Championship

2012: Taiwan eSports League

Who is he?

As a former top StarCraft: Brood War player in Taiwan before Sen’s domination, Pai-Chi “SoBaD” Chang changes his career path to become a shoutcaster after StarCraft II launched in 2010. He is currently the favorite StarCraft 2 shoutcaster in Taiwan and mainly broadcasts Taiwan eSports League matches on television. Last fall, he went to the 2012 Battle.net World Championship in Shanghai to help commentate Sen’s games during the event.

Prestigious tournaments casted:

2012: Taiwan eSports League

Who is he?

Joeman was a writer before making a career change to commentating StarCraft. He is one of most popular eSports shoutcasters in Taiwan. He mainly broadcasts Taiwan eSports League matches with SoBaD, and the two often cast matches together. Joeman also appears in many major eSports events in Taiwan.

Featuring

Andy Bond -
Senior Software Engineer
Alex Sun -
Designer

Event Details

On the evening of March 11, join Blizzard and your fellow players in Moscow to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! You will have the opportunity to be one of the first to get your claws on a copy of the Collector’s Edition, and various activities and prizes await you at the official Russian launch event. Take part in a night of epic entertainment before the game goes live and you accompany Sarah Kerrigan in her quest for revenge against the treacherous Mengsk.

If you can’t attend in person, you’ll be able to watch the live stream of our official launch celebrations across the globe in multiple languages.

Featuring

Event Details

On the evening of March 11, join Blizzard Entertainment in São Paulo to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! This official event will give you the opportunity to mingle with fellow terran, protoss, and zerg players as well as take part in a night of epic entertainment!

You'll also be able to meet some of the StarCraft II developers and have opportunities to win great prizes. Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on a copy of Heart of the Swarm or Heart of the Swarm Collector's Edition and get it signed by the developers, the Blizzard Brazil team and community personalities.

Activities

Xuminator, one of the most popular Brazilian casters

Be one of the first Brazilians to buy the exclusive and limited StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Collector’s Edition

Giveaways and incredible prizes!

Event Schedule

Monday, March 11, 10:00 a.m.

Saraiva opens, licensed product may be purchased and store will be working as usual, no wristbands will be distributed.

Monday, March 11, 7:00 p.m.

A line will be formed at Saraiva Store.

The first purchasers of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm at the store will earn a wristband that gives access to Saraiva’s upper floor auditorium where the main event will take place. The wristbands are limited.

Blizzard will broadcast all the activities from the upper floor to other guests through Saraiva’s TV monitors in the lower floor.

Monday, March 11, 9:00 p.m.

Event kick-off at Saraiva’s Auditorium with Xuminator.

Giveaways, contests, exclusive videos, interview with the developers, and much more!

Monday, March 11, 10:30 p.m.

Blizzard autograph tables openNOTE: Blizzard employees will be signing one item per person.

Attendees will be able to receive exclusive (but limited) gifts at the exit.

Featuring

Rob McNaughton -
Lead Technical Artist

Event Details

On the evening of March 11, join Blizzard Entertainment in Mexico City to celebrate the launch of StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm! This official event will give you the opportunity to mingle with fellow terran, protoss, and zerg players as well as take part in a night of epic entertainment!

You'll also be able to meet some of the StarCraft II development team and have opportunities to win great prizes. Be one of the first in the world to get your hands on a copy of Heart of the Swarm and get it signed by the developers, the Blizzard Mexico team and community personalities.